In this post, we are providing at glance the products we consider to be some of the best offerings in the market in their respective categories. The products mentioned below have been put to rigorous tests, compared against the competing products from multiple brands, and have been analysed on various aspects pertaining to their intended use. For a comprehensive post on Fitness Equipment, you may read our detailed guide - https://shoppinaire.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-complete-guide-to-buying-fitness.html
Treadmill
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12 and Best Choice 13
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7 and Best Choice 8
Recapitulating on the most crucial aspects of buying a Fitness Equipment -
TREADMILL
Treadmill is one of the most popular exercise machines of all time, perhaps for the fact that unlike other gym equipment that require one to have a thorough knowledge of their method of use and need to be guided by a certified trainer, with treadmill, one does not need to invest in highly prized gym memberships and then devote time to attend the gym sessions. One can purchase a treadmill and place it at any convenient location in one’s home and it can be used by all family members of every age group alike. Using a treadmill is akin to walking or running, therefore most people find themselves at home when using it.
A treadmill is primarily a composition of five different components - electric motor, console, frame, conveyor belt and deck. These five components work in perfect harmony with each other to facilitate workout environment right at one’s home.
- Electric Motor
An electric motor is the heart of the treadmill. It powers the conveyor belt which continuously moves on the deck at a constant speed fixed by the user. There are two different ratings of the treadmill motor that ascertain the kind of performance one can derive from the treadmill. Those are:
- Peak horsepower
- Continuous horsepower
As the name suggests, peak horsepower of a treadmill motor pertains to the maximum output it can produce. Mostly, the peak horsepower is achieved by the motor during the initial second or two and is not retained throughout the course of the workout. On the other hand, continuous horsepower is the sustained output the motor is capable of churning out at all times as long as the treadmill is in use. Continuous horsepower rating is what holds paramount importance when performance of a treadmill is in context.
As a rule of thumb, someone considering to use a treadmill merely for taking a brisk walk on the conveyor belt would find his/her requirements fulfilled by a treadmill that makes use of a 1.5 horsepower continuous duty motor. Whereas, someone looking forward to workout at a pace that is equivalent to taking a jog or a light run would require a treadmill, the electric motor of which churns out 1.75 continuous horsepower. For dedicated runners, it is advisable to settle on a treadmill that makes use of a 2 to 2.5 horsepower continuous duty motor to power the conveyor belt.
As integral component of a treadmill as the electric motor is, there is a category of treadmills that does not come equipped with one. In those treadmills, the pace of movement of one’s feet on the deck moves the conveyor belt at corresponding speeds. Such treadmills are popularly known as ‘Manual Treadmills’.
Commonly known by the name ‘cycle’, a bicycle is one of the oldest and most effective machines that can assist one in maintaining good health, developing endurance and losing weight. Bicycles have been around since the late 19th century and have never lost popularity ever since. A well liked iteration of a bicycle is the stationary bicycle also known as ‘exercise bicycle’. As the name suggests, a stationary bicycle is an indoor exercise equipment resembling an outdoor bicycle without wheels.
A bicycle is an excellent means to achieving one’s fitness goals without requiring one to allocate time from one’s busy schedule to take gym sessions. By the virtue of its design, an outdoor bicycle is compact enough to be tucked away in any part of one’s home/veranda from where it can be taken outdoors.
Just like a treadmill, a bicycle too is a machine that is a composition of multiple constituents - frame, tyres, seat and brakes.
- Tyres
Tyres are the most crucial component of a bicycle for the fact that they transfer the combined load of the rider and the bicycle through the axle to the ground and provide necessary traction on the surface travelled over. In addition to providing grip on the surface, tyres are an important source of providing shock absorption and imparting assistance in balancing and turning the bicycle.
Diameter of the tyres is an important consideration one needs to cater to before deciding on a bicycle. The only prerequisite needed to determine the tyre dimension that would suit one’s needs is the rider’s height.
- For kids and riders of a relatively shorter stature(~ 5 feet 2 inches), a bicycle that comes fitted with 24 inch tyres would prove to be a decent choice.
- For someone over 5.5 feet in height, deciding on a bicycle that comes equipped with 26 inch tyres would make for a reasonable purchase.
- For taller riders(~ 6 feet and taller), it would be wise to opt for a bicycle, the diameter of whose tyres is between 27 and 29 inches.
When multiple riders of different stature are to use the same bicycle, it is imperative to opt for a bicycle that comes fitted with 26 inch tyres and adjust the seat height to befit one’s individual needs.
STATIONARY BICYCLE
A slight moderation to the traditional bicycle by removing the wheels and installing a single flywheel. Flywheel is a spinning, weighted metal disc, in the place where the front wheel would be in a traditional bicycle results in a marvelous exercise equipment called stationary bicycle. This fitness equipment comes as a boon to those who reside in areas where weather is not always pleasant to favour cycling on road/tracks or taking gym sessions.
A rotary dial/lever to adjust the tension on the flywheel is attached to the frame by the means of which one can increase or decrease the resistance on the flywheel to make the workout challenging or easy as per one’s fitness goals.
Stationary bicycles are manufactured in three configurations on the basis of the purpose they solve. Those are:
- Upright. Upright stationary bicycles are the most common type among the three and highly resemble the traditional outdoor bicycle. The greatest advantage of upright stationary bicycles sharing a footprint with outdoor bicycles comes from the fact that in addition to being seated during the workout, the rider can make the workout more challenging by increasing the pedalling speed if he chooses to pedal while attaining a standing position. This configuration of bicycles provides an opportunity to the rider for great cardiovascular and lower body workout just like outdoor bicycles. Additionally, due to the upright posture of the rider, the other areas that are greatly stimulated by a workout on these bicycles are abdomen and arms. Besides proving as a great equipment for achieving one’s fitness goals, these bicycles tend to have the smallest footprint among the three and are easier to transport.
- Recumbent. Recumbent stationary bicycles are designed with keeping rider’s comfort in consideration. The seat is wide, the back support is adequately cushioned, the pedals are all the way ahead near the front flywheel. The entire seating setup allows one to achieve one’s fitness goals and burn calories with utmost ease. Such form factor facilitates maintaining healthy spinal posture during the workout. The workout performed on recumbent bicycles also tends to be gentle on one’s knees and other joints. The lower seating position ensures that even the elderly family members and kids would find themselves at ease using this configuration of stationary bicycles.
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- Unstable, wobbly frame of the treadmill. As discussed earlier, the frame of the treadmill is the chassis that holds all the other components together, therefore, it must be sturdy and be built to withstand even the healthiest of users. However, building high-quality frame requires use of metal in plentiful quantity, which increases the overall cost of the product. In order to reduce manufacturing costs and to lure the customer citing low prices of the product, some manufacturers resort to using frame fabricated out of light, non-durable and rust prone materials. As a result of this, when a user sets the conveyor speed to a higher value, typically in the range that corresponds to the speed of running, the frame due to its light construction tends to shake and wobble. An unstable frame can cause the user to lose balance and trip on the conveyor belt which could lead to injury. In worst cases, the entire frame could collapse under the stress and might cause disaster. Moreover, the shaky structure inhibits confidence in the user to go faster and hinders one in achieving one’s fitness goals.
- Substandard rims of the wheels of the bicycle. Quality of rims deployed in the bicycle has a large impact on the safety of the rider. Rims are the weight bearers of the rider and the bicycle, therefore, it is imperative to decide on a bicycle, the rims of which are made of tough and resilient materials. Unfortunately, most buyers do not pay much attention to the rims of the bicycle when purchasing one. This fact serves as a perfect opportunity for some manufacturers to reduce production costs and increase their profits. When encountered with an undulation on the road or when one rides over a pothole at higher speeds, weak rims tend to lose their shape and deform at microscopic levels. Over a period of months of use, the structural strength of the rim continuously deteriorates. In such scenario, one hard blow to the weak rim could cause it to completely collapse, exposing the rider to unfortunate consequences.
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